ME TRAINING WITH GRANDMASTER KEITH R. KERNSPECHT
before learning wing chun kung fu
I started martial arts when I was about 10 years old doing karate for only 6 months getting to an orange belt but did not enjoy it at all, it had very basic moves that took too long to learn, plus our karate instructor was very strict and got us all sparing with no protective gear on.
So I left martial arts behind me and just continued to work in a dead end job and then I had an accident at work that damaged my neck and back, along with that I then was diagnosed with severe anxiety & depression. I had to leave my job for good as could no longer do my warehouse duties as struggled with the back and neck pain and sat in my chair for 6 months doing nothing while the pain just got worse. The doctors said I will never be the same again but I was not going to give up. So I started working out to help with the movement of my back which greatly decreased the pain and I had way more mobility since my accident. I was then in a situation of 4 men wanting to attack me and I never wanted to feel scared like that again if a situation ever occurred and would want to be able to defend myself if it ever happened again.
ME AT KUNG FU SCHOOLS CRAWLEY
My wing chun kung fu journey
This brings us onto my Kung Fu journey with Wing Chun Kung Fu at the Franchise Kung Fu Schools…
I always wanted to learn Wing Chun Kung Fu due to seeing the famous Bruce Lee in action and the great Grandmaster Yip Kai Man, the Legend of Wing Chun. So I was the age of 32 when decided to start my Kung Fu journey with Kung Fu Schools Gillingham. I remember my first ever lesson at Kung Fu Schools Gillingham as was very friendly and everyone was very welcoming. I enjoyed it so much I signed up after my 4 weeks FREE trial and received a FREE white Kung Fu Schools top, I then felt like part of the family. I love training with everyone there and have made some amazing friends for life at my instructors School… Kung Fu Schools Gillingham.
Here is a photo of my Instructor Sifu Alex Perriman with me and some of the Gillingham team, Magic Hands team, Grandmaster Keith R. Kernspecht, which was fantastic touching hands with him as his teachers… teacher was the great Grandmaster Yip Kai Man, who taught the famous Bruce Lee and not to forget the man himself… the owner of Kung Fu Schools, Master Paul Hawkes (OWNER OF KUNG FU SCHOOLS) 5th from the left next to Grandmaster Kernspecht and Sifu Alex Perriman 3rd from the left (MY INSTRUCTOR).
KUNG FU SCHOOLS GILLINHAM, KUNG FU SCHOOLS CRAWLEY AND MAGIC HANDS WITH GRANDMASTER KEITH R. KERNSPECHT AND MASTER PAUL HAWKES – 24th March 2023
training at kung fu schools gillingham - 11/05/2021
I started learning Wing Chun Kung Fu at Kung Fu Schools Gillingham when I was 32 on Tuesday 11th May 2021…
My instructor is very knowledgeable, technical and very patient with teaching martial arts and is very advance in his own training. He helped me greatly with my forms, techniques and knowledge of Wing Chun Kung Fu.
My Sifu Alex Perriman training with me in the picture below…
SIFU ALEX PERRIMAN (MY INSTRUCTOR) AT KUNG FU SCHOOLS GILLINGHAM
my progression to Intermediate level (grades 1 - 7)
I was very into Wing Chun Kung Fu so much in fact I would train hours everyday, which would be the reason why I got to Grade 8 so quickly as I put myself through intense training. Also having a great instructor really helped me to get where I wanted to get to with my grading and so my first grading began…
My first ever grading was on 29th May 2021 – Taking my first grading only 2 weeks of learning Wing Chun Kung Fu as I was a very quick learner and very enthusiastic. I was a bit nervous as that can be expected but I was very excited to pass my first grade. Around July time I started doing the advance classes early as my instructor said I am picking it up very quickly and he does not mind me going up early as normally got to be grade 4 to go to the advance classes.
My 2nd grading was taken on 5th October 2021 – I went for my first double grade as COVID stopped us grading around July time, so I thought why not go for grade 2 and 3. Once I passed my 2nd and 3rd grade I asked my instructor about becoming a martial arts instructor and he said he can definitely help me with that.
I passed my 4th grade on 14th December 2021 – I was a bit nervous on this one as I had to go through the full first form Siu Nim Tao. After passing my 4th grade I could now buy my new grey Kung Fu Schools top.
I passed my 5th grade on 22nd February 2022 – Definitely felt more nervous on this grading as needed to perform the first section of the 2nd form Chum Kiu and to be able to show my instructor I can do the Poon Sau roll with the changes. After passing my 5th grade I was now classed as – INTERMEDIATE LEVEL.
I passed my 6th and 7th grade on 26th April 2022 – Again I went for double grading as I been training for many hours and knew all I needed plus more for my next grading. So for this one I needed more of the 2nd form Chum Kiu and most of Chi Sau Section 1 which is a fast action section that looks very cool and is hard to get right, so yes I was nervous for this one. After passing my 7th grade I could now buy my new Blue Kung Fu Schools top.
MY 7TH GRADE CERTIFICATE
training to be an instructor
&
My progression to advance level (grades 8 - 10)
After I passed my 8th grade, I wanted to start training to be a fully qualified instructor…
So I started helping my Sifu teach his classes in Gillingham just to get the experience of teaching children as it is very different teaching adults. I taught the children classes for about 2 months as an assistant instructor before taking yet another double grading…
I passed my 8th and 9th grade on 5th July 2022 – Which was very nerve racking as I had to do the full Chi Sau Sections 1 and 2. I was very happy passing my 9th grade as I would now be considered – Advance Level in Wing Chun Kung Fu.
After passing my 9th grade, I finally got my black assistant instructor top and after 4 months of being an assistant instructor I was confident enough to teach my instructors classes on my own to see how I get on with minimal help. I was doing really well and was ready to take my next grading.
I passed my 10th grade on 16th August 2022 – Proving I am capable of Chi Sau Section 3, I passed my 10th grade and I could now buy my new brown Kung Fu Schools top.
After passing my 10th grade I was getting the confidence to start teaching my instructors classes on my own just to see if I can manage it without my instructors help. After 6 months of being an assistant instructor I felt ready to start teaching my own School and wanted to take the next step… Meeting the main man… Master Paul Hawkes
ME AT KUNG FU SCHOOLS CRAWLEY
meeting the main man... master paul hawkes! - 14th october 2022
The big day finally arrived when I get to meet the founder of the Kung Fu Schools franchise…
14th October 2022 – Myself and my Sifu Alex Perriman drove up to Crawley so I could meet Master Paul Hawkes for the very first time. We spent a good 3 hours just chatting about our fascination with Wing Chun Kung Ku and how it helps greatly with stress, anxiety, depression, fitness, discipline and many more benefits to it. We also talked about how passionate we are teaching Adults and Children, how rewarding it is to see a child come out of their shell gaining the confidence they need and gaining new skills in Kung Fu looking so excited they have learned a new technique. We then went for a business lunch to chat more about me becoming a fully trained instructor with the Kung Fu Schools franchise and Master Paul Hawkes could see that I was very passionate about becoming an instructor at my own School – KUNG FU SCHOOLS CANTERBURY.
We then discussed my next step would be to get to Grade 12 to be qualified to teach children and adults on my own and I trained very hard to get to the level I needed to be.
ME WITH THE MAIN MAN HIMSELF… MASTER PAUL HAWKES!
ME TRAINING WITH MASTER PAUL HAWKES (FOUNDER OF KUNG FU SCHOOLS) AT KUNG FU SCHOOLS CRAWLEY
THE FINAL HURDLE - GRADE 11 & 12
I trained extra hard to becoming a fully qualified instructor… so I thought why not got for another double grading.
I passed my 11th and 12th grade on October 18th 2022 – This one was the hardest grading I have done so far and it meant the most to me this time round as it would mean I could finally become a fully qualified instructor. Passing grade 12 means you have to perform your Siu Nim Tao, Chum Kiu and Chi Sau Sections 1 – 4.
I passed my 11th and 12th grade that day and would then gain my new black Kung Fu Schools instructor top.
MY 12TH GRADE CERTIFICATE
the road to success
Anyone starting their own business is never easy as I would find that out after I passed my 12th grade and becoming a fully qualified instructor.
The next 3 months were very tough getting everything ready before I could open up my School to teach children and adults Wing Chun Kung Fu. There was a lot of lesson planning, website designing, advertising and ordering stock I needed for my classes. Although there was a lot to sort out I was very determined to start one of my dream jobs. I had lots of advice from the NEST team which are a fantastic company to be with and of course had loads of help from my Instructor Sifu Alex Perriman and Master Paul Hawkes.
The main thing I had trouble with was finding a venue in the centre of Canterbury City but I finally managed to find a lovely hall in Petham Village that is not too far from the town centre of Canterbury.
I had to do a lot of advertising to get bookings before the grand opening but I managed to get a large amount before the big day.
PETHAM VILLAGE HALL – KUNG FU SCHOOLS CANTERBURY
kung fu schools canterbury - the grand opening!
jan 18th 2023
Finally the big day arrives…
Jan 18th 2023 – Was an exciting day for Kung Fu Schools Canterbury to be finally opened and what a year it has been. I have met some wonderful people and have made a lot of new friends for life. I love teaching Wing Chun Kung Fu to children and adults of all ages as it gives me great pleasure to see everyone of my students gaining confidence, making new friends, learning new techniques and most important… having a FUN time doing so.
My first time me being at the other side of grading for once was a strange but good feeling and we all had a superb grading day as everyone passed with flying colours.
I am enjoying every moment of being an instructor and I hope to continue to grow the franchise by gaining more experience every day that comes.
Lets see what Kung Fu Schools can achieve in the years the come!
Below are some pictures of our first ever grading week at Kung Fu Schools Canterbury…
MY FIRST LITTLE DRAGONS GRADING
MY FIRST JUNIOR WARRIORS GRADING
MY FIRST ADULTS GRADING
Well done to Celeste & Rafael for making History at becoming my First Little Dragon & Junior Warrior students of the month.
Celeste
MY FIRST LITTLE DRAGON STUDENT OF THE MONTH
Rafael
MY FIRST JUNIOR WARRIOR OF THE MONTH
Cinar was my first student to meet Master Paul Hawkes (FOUNDER OF KUNG FU SCHOOLS) & Grandmaster Keith R. Kernspecht… He also met my SIFU Alex Perriman (KUNG FU SCHOOLS GILLINGHAM)
CINAR AT HIS FIRST SEMINAR WITH THE 2 GREAT LEGENDS – MASTER PAUL HAWKES AND GRANDMASTER KEITH R. KERNSPECHT
Well done Cinar for becoming my first student to double grade as he puts in the effort and loves asking me questions which reminds myself of what I was like when I first started learning Wing Chun Kung Fu.
CINAR GETTING HIS FIRST DOUBLE GRADE CERTIFICATES
I am enjoying every lesson I teach and love being a martial arts instructor full time…
My next step on my Kung Fu Journey is to train hard and finally go for my Black Sash 1st Degree Grading!
SIFU CHRISU SEMINAR - 13/05/2023
The best seminar I have ever been to so far as Sifu Chrisu is an exceptional Wing Chun Master!
His knowledge and enthusiasm for the Wing Chun art is amazing when he is teaching…
He teaches you how to use modern Wing Chun to be effective in a real situation while getting you to attack him at random which gives you the confidence boost you need in self defence…
ME WITH MY TWO STUDENTS CINAR & RICHARD WITH MASTER PAUL HAWKES AND MASTER CHRISU…
I HAD TO GET A PHOTO OF ME GETTING MASTER CHRISU IN A HEADLOCK!
CINAR WAS MY FIRST STUDENT TO MEET MASTER PAUL HAWKES (FOUNDER OF KUNG FU SCHOOLS)
PREPARING FOR the big one - black sash 1st degree
BLACK SASH 1ST DEGREE – There is a lot more you need to train for your black sash 1st degree grading compared to the previous 12 grades…
Grades 1 – 12 take about 8 weeks in between grades to pass on average.
Black sash degrees take a lot longer in between degree grades anywhere from 1 year to a few years depending on the effort and time you put into your training but on average you should be able to pass your 1st degree in about 1 year from passing your 12th grade.
Unlike the previous grades where you do not need to know much per grade, your black sash 1st degree you need to be able to perform Siu Nim Tao, Chum Kiu and all your Chi Sau Sections 1 – 4 to perfection. You also need to perform NEW Chi Sau Sections 5,6 & 7 plus all of your 3rd form Biu Tze.
There is a lot more to remember of by heart and you need to perform it to perfection in front of the main man and Founder of Kung Fu Schools… MASTER PAUL HAWKES!
So going for your 1st degree black sash is a very nerve racking experience as you got to remember 3 FORMS, CHI SAU SECTIONS 1 – 7 and to do all that with the pressure of the MASTER grading you!
That all being said I do not want to put anyone of from wanting to go for their 1st degree black sash as it is very rewarding after you pass and is a wonderful experience getting graded by a LEGEND!
Since passing my 12th grade and becoming a fully qualified instructor…
I have been training intensively with my SIFU ALEX PERRIMAN having lots of private lessons and training at home for hours on end to get to the level I need to be. With all the training I have been doing in my spare time when I am not teaching, I finally feel ready to take my very first… BLACK SASH 1ST DEGREE GRADING!
BLACK SASH 1ST DEGREE - GRADING DAY - 06/10/2023
Finally it has come to the big grading day…
As an Instructor my grading was performing all 7 Chi Sau Sections with other Kung Fu Schools Instructors!
I did not feel nervous on grading day which was odd not to be but I managed to perform all 7 Chi Sau Sections to Black Sash standards.
I then had to perform Siu Nim Tao, Chum Kiu and Biu Gee Forms in front of the other Instructors which was quite nerve racking but I smashed all 3 forms to Black Sash standards.
After all my hard work of training all I needed to Know for my Grading…
I passed my Black Sash 1st Degree Grading!
MASTER PAUL HAWKES HANDING ME MY BLACK SASH 1ST DEGREE CERTIFICATE
ME WITH MY INSTRUCTOR SIFU ALEX PERRIMAN (RIGHT) AND MASTER PAUL HAWKES (LEFT)
MY KUNG FU JOURNEY AFTER BLACK SASH 1ST DEGREE!
The next stepping stones of my Wing Chun Kung Fu Journey…
Would be to continue my training ready for my Black sash 2nd Degree!
To pass my 2nd DEGREE I need to be able to perform all 6 sections of Biu Chi Sau and the full form of the wooden dummy which consists of 116 moves.
I would also love to get one of my Adult students to pass their Black Sash 1st Degree and eventually gain my SIFU rank which is only achievable from 5 of my students passing their Black Sash 1st Degree and from passing my Black Sash 3rd Degree!
In the mean time I am just going to concentrate on my training for my Black Sash 2nd Degree and teaching my students to pass their Black Sash 1st Degree!
Preparing for the next big one - black sash 2nd degree
Black Sash 2nd Degree – The 2nd Degree is a lot more technical than the previous 1st Degree…
To pass your Black Sash 2nd Degree you will need to be able to perform all previous 7 sections of Chi Sau and all previous 3 forms to a higher standard than before.
Plus the new stuff on top of all that which consists of performing all 6 sections of Biu Chi Sau which are all more technical and complicated to the previous standard 7 Chi Sau sections and to perform the full form on the Wooden Dummy which has 116 techniques to perform!
I have been training hard on all my Biu Chi Sau sections and spent a long time practising my Wooden Dummy form ready for my Black Sash 2nd Degree Grading!
